The Conrad Family

Sleepy baby...

2012-02-10T12:47:00.002-07:00

Eli was so tired and being the good parents that we are, we recorded this video and giggled instead of putting him to bed! I just love this kid!!

Happy New Year...

2012-01-22T19:57:00.004-07:00

The kids BEGGED to stay up until midnight! Asher was out by ten, Aidan made it until 10:45 or so, and the big kids lasted all the way until twelve! Talia was uber grumpy and Noah was tired but excited to have made it! We drank yummy sparkling cider with my parents and then put the kids to bed. I am not sure if it will ever happen again because the grouchiness that came the next day was not fun at all!

Best little brother...

2012-01-21T23:38:00.001-07:00

Eli is the world's best little brother!! If you don't believe me, you can ask his brothers and sister. They just love him so so much. I guess when you are this cute it is hard not to have a fan club!

Eagle scholar...

2012-01-21T22:48:00.004-07:00

Talia earned her first award in Kindergarten back in November and it was a good one!! She earned the Eagle Scholar award which is for the most outstanding student in her class. Her teacher said she is a dream and she wishes all her kids were just like Talia! We are so proud of how well she is doing! She really is such a great student! Here is the video of her receiving the award from her principal!

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y...

2012-01-21T21:43:00.004-07:00

Today Talia had her first experience with cheerleading and she LOVED it! She had a mini cheer camp and then got to perform between the JV and Varsity basketball game. It was so fun to watch! She was so brave and had so much fun! I think Nate would prefer if she stuck with sports but she sure loved this little bit of girly stuff! We are going to try a dance class on Monday. I figure since she is my only girl I better make the most of it because Star Wars and football is only fun for so long!

Too funny...

2012-01-18T17:31:00.002-07:00

Don't pass out! I am actually blogging! Here is a funny little video that was too good not to share! I think the Grandmas will appreciate it! I think I may qualify as mother of the year for my time out methods!

My big kindergarten girl...

2011-08-30T11:24:00.002-06:00

My little girl is growing up too fast! Seriously...someone stop her!! I asked...well begged actually to have her stay home with me but she said NO! She is so excited to be able to go to school and learn how to read. She is so smart and I am so excited to see how fast she picks things up! She is in a class of mostly boys which makes me nervous! This girl loves to visit and play with the guys! I am just hoping she makes at least a couple of girl friends this year. She was jabbering to the boys in line with her and wasn't nervous at all! I think she is going to love school!

It begins...

2011-08-30T11:19:00.001-06:00

Here are two of my babies all ready for school! Noah is in second grade and Talia is off to kindergarten!

First day of school...

2011-08-30T10:52:00.003-06:00

The kids started school yesterday and I don't think they could have been more excited! They jumped out of bed and squealed all morning long. Noah was full of advice for Talia and she was just eating it all up! It was a fun and wild morning! The bus was a few minutes late and they were so anxious for it to come. They kept asking how much longer at least a dozen times so I was glad to see the bus come around the corner! They have great teachers this year and I can't wait to see what they will learn! I just can't believe they are getting so big!

Zzzzzz....

2011-05-09T13:32:00.001-06:00

So tired! Those short nights sure catch up with a tiny boy!

Holding their new baby...

2011-05-04T10:17:00.002-06:00

The kids were so excited to hold their new little brother! They can't wait to bring him home! I am so glad they are happy. It was such a fun moment!

Washing the hair...

2011-05-04T10:12:00.002-06:00

They gave Eli his first bath in our room and they let the kids help brush his hair! They were so excited to be able to do something to take care of their new baby. It was so fun to watch them be so involved. They LOVE their little brother!

Little mister...

2011-05-04T09:58:00.002-06:00

Welcome our newest sweetheart
Eli Brett Conrad
May 3, 2011
7 pounds, 20 inches long
PERFECTLY PERFECT!!
Oh goodness am I in love with the baby! What a miracle for our family!

My Easter babies...

2011-04-18T15:20:00.002-06:00

Here are my cute kiddos in the Easter outfits that Grandma and Grandpa bought for them! My boys are extra handsome and my little girl is so so pretty! We let them wear their new duds to church yesterday since we won't be here for Easter. We got lots of compliments on how cute they all looked! My boys are extra handsome and my little girl is so so pretty!

"Hee Haw...I'm a cowboy"...

2011-04-18T15:16:00.001-06:00

*notice the sideways hat*
This made my afternoon!

Licorice face...

2011-04-18T15:14:00.001-06:00

Asher loves red vines! I love Asher's face when he eats red vines.

Our little singer...

2011-04-10T08:52:00.003-06:00

Asher loves to sing. It is hilarious and since I am so unselfish I will share this video with you in spite of the fact that I looked like a beached whale. Please, please, please just ignore the huge pregnant lady and focus on my adorable boy!

Aidan's birthday song...

2011-03-25T21:41:00.002-06:00

We were glad to have our friends come over to celebrate another birthday with us! Happy birthday Aidan!

Living Planet Aquarium...

2011-03-25T21:19:00.003-06:00

We wanted to do something fun for Aidan's birthday but having a Sunday birthday is no fun. So, we decided to head to Salt Lake the day before and go to the aquarium. Aunt Tiffy came with us and we had a great time. The kids were so excited to see all of the fish and the penguins. They have a touch pool where you can touch a sting ray. Our kids were fascinated....not enough to actually touch anything. Asher did enjoy splashing in the water though. I think our favorite part was watching them feed the penguins. They were so cute and so fast! Aidan also loved the shark tank and the giant sea turtle. It was a fun way to spend a day!

The birthday boy...

2011-03-25T20:55:00.002-06:00

My little Aidan is four! I can't even believe he is that big. He has grown into such a fun and playful little boy. He is so smart and is in love with dinosaurs and his Aunt Ashley. He has the best laugh and his nose wrinkles up when he smiles. He loves to snuggle up and read books...mostly about dinosaurs. I love pretty much everything about this kid. He is so special and I am so blessed that he is mine! Happy birthday sweet boy!
Since he is so infatuated with dinosaurs, we HAD to have a dinosaur fossil cake! He thought it was pretty cool! I thought it was really yummy!

Grandma and Grandpa with the puppy came to spend a couple of days with us for his birthday. He was so glad they could come visit. He loves the tent that they gave him. He can't wait to take friends downstairs so he can show it off!

Our neighbors...

2011-03-24T23:38:00.002-06:00

This is what we see outside our front door every night. Our neighbors feed them on their lawn. The kids love to go out and see all the deer...especially Asher. He watches them. They watch him. Then he waves and says "Bu-bye deer!".

Our first and only snowman...

2011-03-24T23:34:00.002-06:00

We have had TONS of snow but nothing that was great for making a snowman! Tiff gave us this cute snowman kit for Christmas and we finally got to use it. It was technically more of a "snowmound" because we couldn't get it to roll. The kids were just excited to finally have a snowman! I think he turned out pretty great!

Birthday singing...

2011-03-24T23:21:00.002-06:00

My birthday girl...

2011-03-24T22:57:00.002-06:00

Miss Talia is five!! Can you believe it?!?! I swear it was just yesterday that she was crawling around and jabbering things I didn't understand. I am so thankful to have her in our family. She is such a special girl. She is so creative and will spend hours coloring and drawing pictures. She loves to play with her stuffed animals and baby dolls. She has such imagination. She is a great sister and loves her brothers....most of the time. I can't imagine what life would be like without her in it. She is such a special blessing to me. Happy birthday baby girl!
All the animals dressed in their Sunday best just for her birthday party!

Since she is our princess, it is only fitting that she have a crown birthday cake! It was a pain in the rear to make but she loved it so it was all worth it in the end!

Kindergarten...

2011-03-24T22:40:00.003-06:00

It is official! We have another kid that is ready to go to school! We registered Talia for Kindergarten just a couple of days before her birthday. She did really well and everyone complimented me on how smart she is! She is so excited. I keep telling her that I need her help at home but she assures me that Aidan will help me instead. I really will miss having her with me everyday. She is such a good helper. Although...our house might stay a little cleaner since she loves to cut paper and make "projects" that leave little messes everywhere! I just can't believe she is already so big. Where did the time go???

Talia's Christmas dress...

2011-03-24T22:36:00.001-06:00

Here is Talia in her new Christmas dress! She looked so pretty! A special thanks to my cousin Jonie for making the perfect bows for her hair!

The last place you look...

2011-03-24T22:33:00.001-06:00

We hadn't seen Aidan for a few minutes on Christmas night so we started looking. This is where we found him. He was just too worn out to wait for us so he went to bed on his own.

Dino robot...

2011-03-24T22:22:00.002-06:00

Aunt Tiffy gave Aidan the coolest dinosaur robot for Christmas. It moves and roars. It is so lifelike....it is almost creepy. Grandpa was helping Aidan run his dinosaur. It was so cute to watch Asher squat down and talk to it. It may have been the most popular toy with the kids...and the grown ups too!

Obsessed...

2011-03-24T22:15:00.002-06:00

My boys are slightly obsessed. Noah wanted everything Minnesota Vikings and Aidan was all about the dinosaurs. Needless to say, they were very happy with their Christmas haul.

Spoiled...

2011-03-24T21:33:00.002-06:00

We were so very spoiled this year. We were blessed to have so many gifts from people who love us. But our best gifts this year weren't under our tree. We are thankful for all that our Heavenly Father has given us. Family, friends, a warm home, a wonderful community, good health, and lots and lots of love. Yep....we are pretty spoiled.

Santa found us...

2011-03-24T21:29:00.002-06:00

The kids were so excited to see what Santa brought them! He came through with the often requested pillow pets. Noah got a DS game, Talia got a doll house, Aidan got an army set, and Asher got a tool bench. Their stockings were full of candy and a flashlight! We were really spoiled to have so many fun things this year!

Christmas Eve...

2011-03-24T20:23:00.002-06:00

I know I am extraordinarily behind but here is our Christmas Eve. This year was fun because my parents came to spend Christmas with us. Here is Nathan talking to the kids about the Savior and why we celebrate Christmas. My dad read the Christmas story out of the Bible for us. It is always fun to see how much the kids know about Jesus Christ. I hope their testimonies just keep growing.
Asher spent a lot of Christmas Eve in time-out. He missed almost everything and was not happy! Sad that you have to be disciplined on a holiday! He has a really mean mommy!
The kids got to open their one package on Christmas Eve which is always new jammies! Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa with the puppy for the cute new pj's. They have their milk and cookies all ready for Santa! They are such sweet kids and I love this picture of all of them.

More snow...

2011-03-24T20:09:00.002-06:00

The kids have loved all of the snow we have gotten this winter. Our drift from shoveling was big enough that they could sled down it. It really has been a lot of fun to play in just not so much fun to shovel!

Snow angels!

My crazy boys! The snow was almost up to Asher's waist. He kept getting stuck but was smiling anyway!
Glad the kids have a Daddy who will go out and play with them. Pregnant mommy + a coat that only sort of zips = no playing in the snow!

32 Weeks...

2011-03-23T22:54:00.002-06:00

Here is a profile picture of our newest little peanut! We are so happy that this baby is growing well and appears to be totally perfect! We had a growth check ultrasound on Monday and got a really good look at this little face! ADORABLE!! We chose not to find out the gender so we are excited for the surprise that we have coming in the next 6 or 7 weeks! The only bummer was that we found out that the baby is currently in a transverse position (sideways) and it is pretty unlikely that it will be able to turn. Most likely, we will have to schedule a c-section. We were hoping to avoid that but really just want to do what is best for this little one!

This little foot looks so cute....doesn't feel so cute when it is stuck in your ribs!! I actually love every little movement and am so thankful for the blessing of this baby! I can't wait until we get to meet him or her!

Breathe...

2011-01-10T22:38:00.002-07:00

Tonight we are breathing an ENORMOUS sigh of relief! We have a perfectly wonderful heart beating baby!! Our ultrasound went really well. I was really nervous but thank heavens for a calm husband! He made things so much easier for me today! He is always an answer to my prayers! They were running an HOUR behind when we got there so I was able to panic for a LONG time before we got started. The ultrasound tech was really kind and showed us everything as she was doing it. I was beyond grateful to see that little heart and hear it beating. I could have listened all day! All major organs are accounted for and in the proper place! They took so many pictures....we got ONE!! We got a picture of the heart beating (which I love) but no cute little face or tiny feet. We also are apparently being surprised since our little one's cord was smack dab in between its legs. She tried and tried to get the baby to turn over but it was just too stubborn! We have another ultrasound in 8 weeks just to check the baby's growth. Maybe it will be a bit more cooperative and we can see if we are getting a sister or a brother!!
We are so thankful for this miracle in our life. Thank you for praying for us. Thank you for loving and supporting us. I know that we were blessed in more ways than one today. We are just so grateful tonight!!!

Anxiety, news, and a favor...

2011-01-05T11:48:00.002-07:00

I have some severe anxiety lately...

Most of it has to do with the news....which is....we are having a baby! While we were in the hospital delivering Finley, we had some special experiences. One of which was the knowledge that even though she was an important part of our family she wasn't the completion of our family. We felt so strongly that there was another little one for us. We spent time at the temple and still felt like that was the right thing. Then we got pregnant in May and had a miscarriage in June. I was discouraged and thought that maybe I had been reading these impressions wrong. We spent more time at the temple and still felt like our family wasn't complete. So....here we are at almost 21 weeks with a new little one.

Now comes the favor. We have an important appointment on Monday. We are having our BIG ultrasound with a specialist from Maternal Fetal Medicine. I am terrified. This is the same ultrasound where we found out that our little girl didn't have a heartbeat. Would you mind adding an extra prayer for us? I know that none of this is in my hands and I will accept whatever the Lord has in store for us! Just pray that I can have some peace so Nate can have a wife who is not in need of medication!! I am sure he would appreciate it....and so would I!!!

Monkey see...

2010-12-13T12:08:00.002-07:00

Monkey do!! Love these boys!!

My pretty girl...

2010-12-13T12:05:00.001-07:00

I may be slightly biased but I think she is just plain beautiful!!

Basketball camp...

2010-12-13T11:53:00.002-07:00

We put Noah in a basketball camp at the high school last month. It was three days long and not nearly long enough for Noah! He earned the name No Looking Noah. I am not sure where it came from but it might be from his dribbling skills! The head basketball coach told Nate that he thought Noah had some real talent! Not sure if he was sincere but we think he is great!! It was worth every dime!

The gymnasts...

2010-12-13T11:43:00.004-07:00

I am pretty sure there are no contenders for the Olympics in our family but it sure is fun to watch them try!

Snow...

2010-12-13T11:39:00.003-07:00

We got some snow recently....a lot of snow! Noah was the only one who would stand still long enough to show just how much we got! It is well past his knees and that was just from one days worth of snow! It was wonderful! We got enough snow that we had two snow days right before Thanksgiving break! I am sure we will hate making up the time in June but we did have a lot of fun playing and extending our school break!

Eagle author...

2010-12-13T11:33:00.002-07:00

Noah got an award at his school this past month. He got an award for writing. Apparently he has a real talent because all of his awards in Kindergarten were for writing too! Notice the huge smile on his face! That is how much Noah loves it when I come to school! I begged and pleaded for a smile and that is what I got! We are so proud of him and his imagination! He works so hard and his teacher says he is so much fun to have in class! Way to go Noah!!

This face is...

2010-12-13T11:26:00.003-07:00

Two!!!

I love this little boy! I love him so very much! He is such a joy to be around....well....at least 75% of the time (he is learning a lot of attitude from his bigger siblings). He is smart and funny and always melts my heart. He knows just when you need a little snuggle or a hug. He loves candy and has a great smile! He also loves to brush his teeth which hopefully cancels out a little of his candy addiction! Our family just wouldn't be the same without Asher and I am so thankful that Heavenly Father gave him to us! Happy birthday sweet boy!

Candles, singing, and horses...

2010-12-13T11:19:00.003-07:00

Asher just couldn't stop playing with his horses so we had to bring them to the table while we sang happy birthday! He is such a fun boy!

Asher's birthday...

2010-12-13T11:08:00.004-07:00

The birthday boy loves "toot toots" so we made him a train cake for his big day!
I gave Asher and Talia some of the extra frosting and let them frost graham crackers. Talia frosted the crackers and Asher frosted his mouth! Lots of fun!

Asher had so much fun opening his presents! Thanks to everyone who sent gifts and called to wish him a happy birthday! It was a great day!

Dinosaur park...again...

2010-12-13T11:02:00.002-07:00

What can I say....we love the dinosaur park. Aidan would live there and the other kids have a pretty good time too!

Aarrggh...

2010-12-13T11:00:00.002-07:00

Happy Halloween Mateys!!

My kiddos...

2010-12-13T10:58:00.002-07:00

Our apple eater...

2010-12-13T10:53:00.002-07:00

Whenever I give the kids an apple, I have to cut it into pieces and then peel the skin off! We DO NOT eat skin in this house! One day Talia asked if she could have a whole apple. I agreed but told her she had to eat the whole thing. We weren't wasting an apple. This is one of those rare times that she was totally obedient! She is holding what is left of her apple. She picked out the seeds when she got to them and wants to plant them in our yard! She is quite the apple eater!

How Aidan does fireworks...

2010-12-13T10:49:00.002-07:00

This is how Aidan does the 4th of July! He hates the noise and spends the whole night in the house crying and covering his ears. This year we made good progress and got him to come outside for a few minutes. At this rate he should be brave enough for a sparkler in high school!

The 4th of July...

2010-12-13T10:35:00.002-07:00

We live in firework central so you can't NOT purchase some. I think it might be a law or something! We bought fountains, sparklers, roman candles for Nate, and flowers for me. We had spent part of the weekend in Boise for a special baby blessing but we promised the kids we would come home in time for fireworks. Aidan hates them but we did finally talk him into coming outside and watching for a minute. The kids loved the sparklers...especially Asher! Talia was brave and did some roman candles on her own! It was a lot of fun and I was glad that Grandma was there to help me with all the little hands so no one lost a limb to fire!

Tautphaus Park Zoo....

2010-12-13T10:20:00.002-07:00

This year we bought a family membership to Tracy Aviary. It only cost $48 four our family of six and it gives you great discounts and even some free admissions to zoos and parks all around the country. Lucky for us, Tautphaus Park Zoo is one of the free zoos! We have tried to go any time we visit Idaho Falls! I love love love this zoo! It is just small enough that the kids don't get bored before you have seen everything but it has all sorts of great animals! What is not to love....monkeys, a lion, a tiger, bears,penguins, pigs, flamingos, and more! Oh it is so much fun and the kids love it! On this trip, we made it just in time to see them feed the penguins! They were adorable. The kids keep asking when we can go again!

Our first hike...

2010-12-13T10:10:00.003-07:00

We took a hike up the hill behind our house. It may have been our last hike! That hill really doesn't look that steep...but....IT IS!! We decided to get out of the house while Grandma Conrad was visiting. We left her and Asher a bit farther down the hill. The altitude was killing her and we like her better when she is breathing! We kept going with the kids until we were going to have to crawl on all fours because it was so steep and rocky! We weren't very far from the top but I was more than ready to go back down! Turns out that going down was WAY harder than going up! I am not sure if I am a hiker!! We collected wildflowers on our way home and then ate popsicles on the porch. It was a fun day!

A visit to Grandma with the Couch...

2010-12-13T09:58:00.002-07:00

We got to spend a couple of days in Idaho Falls with Great Grandma Couch...the kids call her "Grandma with the Couch". We always have so much fun when we visit. We took the kids down to the falls to feed the ducks, we learned a little crocheting, and we played and ate ice cream when we got hot! It was so much fun!

Talia sings...

2010-12-13T09:44:00.003-07:00

If you know Talia, you know she likes to sing! Sometimes the songs are real...and...most times they are not. She makes up all sorts of silly little songs! Here is an example of what I hear on a daily basis! I love my Talia...she makes my heart happy!!

T-ball...

2010-12-13T09:38:00.002-07:00

Noah played t-ball this year....FINALLY!!! He missed last years season by three weeks because they are really strict on age here! He was on the Tri-Star Construction team and they were the Giants! Saying he loved it would be a HUGE understatement! He was in absolute heaven. He would have played everyday if he could! Nate got to help with the team and I got to attempt to watch while taking care of the other three! Noah had a great cheering section! It was fun to watch him play and have so much fun! We are already counting down the days until the next season starts and Talia can play too!

More t-ball...

2010-12-13T09:10:00.002-07:00

Here are some videos of Noah playing T-ball! I know they are six months late but they are still pretty dang cute in my opinion!

Almost all of my favorite boys...

2010-08-26T09:22:00.001-06:00

The graduate...

2010-08-24T17:51:00.002-06:00

My baby!

I only cried...A LOT!!

Noah and Mrs. Williams

Noah and his principal, Mr. Brown

Noah is officially in first grade (in less than a week) so I guess I should post proof that he actually finished Kindergarten. Noah learned so much and I was amazed at how well he did. They do all day kindergarten here five days a week plus after school enrichment programs a couple of days a week too. Noah wanted to participate in all of them! He would be on the bus everyday at 8:15 and come home at 5:05 every night. It was like a full time job only without the paycheck! He was so enthusiastic and loved the extra things he got to learn. He had a WONDERFUL teacher, Mrs. Williams. I don't think we could have asked for a better teacher! Noah did very well in school. He was in the highest reading program and won a few awards for his writing. They say he has quite the imagination! Most of his stories involved baseball, football, or Star Wars! We are so proud of him and can't wait to see what first grade brings!!

Honestly...

2010-08-24T17:34:00.003-06:00

This is what May 24th looked like at our house! Now I know why people don't plant their gardens here until at least the first of June! (oh...and...it froze on June 14th here too! Wyoming summers are not normal!)

Someone is 6...

2010-07-12T10:33:00.004-06:00

So I thought I should update this blog before Noah turns seven. Noah turned six in May. He wanted a basketball cake and a Nintendo DS. It turns out that we (plus grandparents) are dream makers and he got just what he wanted.

Noah is such a special boy. I remember the minute that he was born. I was completely and utterly in love with this sweet boy. He has been an enormous source of joy to our family. He knows just when you need a kind word or a big hug. I know that I couldn't have made it through the last few months without his sweet spirit. He makes me happy and helps to soothe my heart. I am so very thankful that he is mine! Now to figure out how to keep him from growing up...

Sneak peek...

2010-07-01T22:36:00.004-06:00

I am behind on my blogging...very behind...two months behind. I also hate to skip and then try and go back and catch up again. It confuses me. So...here is a sneak peek of our trip to the dinosaur park for my impatient little sister!! (I love you Ashley!) Now she can't call me and give me a hard time!

Oh...and...the adorably chubby baby in the picture with Asher is 10 months younger! I could eat his legs...literally!

Does he know me...

2010-07-01T08:33:00.003-06:00

I think Jeffrey R. Holland might know me. I mean he writes all these talks that speak just to me. Right?? This was especially fitting today since I was all "mommed" out by 8:00 this morning. It is a great reminder of why I LOVE being a mom. I really do! I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has such trust in me. He has blessed me with such wonderful children and I will always be thankful for the miracle that they are. I am lucky...so very lucky!

Oh how I need this...

2010-06-22T18:15:00.001-06:00

For some reason, the past couple of days have been hard. I have been sad and frustrated and a little on the hopeless side. I have watched this probably a dozen times. Each time it has brought tears to my eyes and peace to my heart. I am glad to know that even though my heart is aching that it WILL get better. I really needed that...REALLY!! I am working hard to have faith in the promise of good things to come. We are very blessed and certainly don't want to sound ungrateful but I am looking forward to some of those GOOD THINGS!!

Hogle Zoo...

2010-06-14T11:35:00.003-06:00

One of Noah's field trips this year was to Hogle Zoo. He was beyond excited. They needed adult chaperones and I asked Noah if I could come. Normally Noah is less than thrilled when I show up to help with anything. He won't even let us come in to Primary when he gives his talks. We have to stand in the hall and listen. I am not sure but I think we make him nervous. I was fully prepared for him to tell me I couldn't come but he didn't. He said it would be fine! I was shocked but didn't argue since I really wanted to go. Me and one other mother were in charge of three rowdy little boys. We really had such a good time. The only thing that I didn't enjoy was the bus ride. The boys wanted to sit all the way in the back which was fine except that our seats were right over the wheels. This makes for one very HOT rear end by the end of your one hour ride. BOTH WAYS!! The zoo was a lot of fun. My favorite was the giraffe house and Noah loved the gorillas. It was fun to see Noah with his friends. He is such a sweet boy and I am so glad he let me spend the day with him. Thanks to my littlest sister for coming all the way to Wyoming to watch my other three wild kids. She is just about the best babysitter. She does laundry and makes dinner...all for free!! I should probably just have her move in. My kids listen to her better anyway!

Finley's picture...

2010-06-11T12:42:00.002-06:00

After we delivered Finley, the hospital sent us home with lots of sweet things to remember her by. They took molds of her hands and feet and dressed her in a tiny gown and booties and wrapped her in beautiful blankets. They had a gold ring that they put on her arm along with a teddy bear that she held. They took pictures of our sweetheart and sent all of it home in a little box. You should never have to look in a box to remember your child. It just isn't right. I was determined to put it all into a shadow box that we could hang on our wall. Here is what I came up with. Thank you to my sister, Ashley for helping me. I am by far not the most talented or creative person but I did it all with more love than you will ever know. I wish like anything that I could change things and have her in our arms but at least her picture is on the wall with her brothers and sister. That is where she belongs because she will always be a part of our forever family!!!

The bump...

2010-06-11T08:29:00.003-06:00

Whenever we go to my parent's house, we make sure to take the big hill. There are quite a few bumps that will tickle your tummy. Asher loves it! Since Nate always drives he never sees Asher's reaction to them. I took this video on Nate's ipod. Asher was so tired and ready to sleep but he still enjoyed his ride!

While the other kids sleep...

2010-06-10T23:36:00.003-06:00

After we put the big kids to bed we usually come out and watch TV and I hold Asher while he goes to sleep...it is bad...I know. Most nights he goes right to sleep but some nights he is on one and goes crazy. I think he likes having all the attention and no one to compete with. He grabbed Noah's winter hat and a punching balloon and went nuts! He kills me sometimes!! Love this kid...seriously...A LOT!!

Why I love Glee...

2010-06-10T23:20:00.003-06:00

I love Glee...A LOT!! I made Nate download the music for me. I like to clean to it. Asher likes to dance to it. His dancing makes me like Glee even more!

Getting their awards...

2010-06-10T23:12:00.003-06:00

Here is a video of the kids getting their medals after gymnastics. They were supposed to pose after they got their medal and Talia was much to excited to do it but Aidan was actually listening and following directions! They are such fun kids!

The only medal they may ever earn...

2010-06-10T23:01:00.002-06:00

The kids got a medal and certificate at their last gymnastics class. They were beyond thrilled and so proud of themselves. I think they are pretty darn cute! Aidan still likes to wear his to the grocery store sometimes!

Gymnastics...

2010-06-10T22:25:00.002-06:00

Aidan and Talia took a gymnastics class at the rec center thanks to Grandma and Grandpa with the puppy. We enrolled them in the last of four sessions because it was the only one that Aidan was old enough for. They had so much fun. I don't think the Olympics are in our future...Special Olympics are a maybe. Lets just say that they have a very limited attention span and a little bit of hearing trouble! All in all, they had the BEST time. Aidan LOVED the trampoline...or jumpoline as he calls it. Talia really liked the balance beam and she actually got better as the class went on. They got to do the uneven bars and the still rings. They worked on cartwheels and somersaults. They both do a pretty great somersault if I do say so myself. It was worth every dime and I am glad they got to do something fun.

This is...

2010-05-19T09:15:00.000-06:00

Aidan...and he is a gymnast!
stay tuned...

Angel...

2010-05-19T09:12:00.002-06:00

If you look in the dictionary for the word angel...this would be the picture that goes with it!

The hunt...

2010-05-19T09:00:00.002-06:00

Noah agreed to get his picture taken with the Easter bunny this year. For those of you who know Noah, you will agree that this is HUGE!! He is generally terrified of anyone dressed as a large animal or bearded man! He is really growing up!
My babies after their delightfully FREEZING Easter egg hunt! How many times do you go to a hunt where they had to snowblow the area before it could start! It was AWESOME!!

We only got action shots of Talia and Noah because they break them up into age groups and they were on opposite ends of the fairgrounds! They all had fun except for the snow and wind! It was probably our fastest Easter egg hunt ever!

Coloring eggs...

2010-05-19T08:55:00.002-06:00

I am so behind! We went to my family's for Easter. We were excited to color eggs and go to the Easter egg hunt! The kids had such a fun time dying eggs and covering them with stickers!

Need to feel better...

2010-05-19T08:50:00.001-06:00

This should do it!!

Hard...

2010-05-18T09:09:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was hard. It was a happy day...Noah's sixth birthday...but I still just fell apart when I went to bed. I am mad. I am heartbroken. I am sad. Sad that I will never make a birthday cake with Finley's name on it. Sad that I will never get to watch her eyes dance as she opens her presents. So many things I won't get to do. I know that I will have those opportunities someday...but I am selfish and I want it THIS day. I just miss her...so much.

Finley Kate Conrad...

2010-04-08T15:37:00.004-06:00

Our family has grown...again! Our newest daughter, Finley Kate, was born on March 26, 2010. She was beautiful and so very loved but too perfect to stay. We found out at our twenty week ultrasound that our little one had passed away. We delivered her two days later. What could have been the worst day imaginable turned out to be one of the most sacred and spiritual times we have experienced. We were so very blessed by our Father in Heaven. We felt like the veil was thin and we were surrounded by so many people who loved us. We were able to spend a few hours holding and loving our sweet baby. During that time, we were blessed with such peace and comfort. What a special time for us as parents. We are so grateful that the Lord trusted us with this most special spirit. We are anxiously awaiting the day that we will all be together again.

My babies...

2010-03-16T23:02:00.002-06:00

We splurged and bought the kids some Easter outfits. They wanted to wear them the next day. We said NO because they were for Easter. I was proud of myself for being strong and not giving in to the whining. Then someone informed me that Easter is over conference weekend. So...they got to wear them the next Sunday! I think they look so cute and so grown up! (Talia was upset because we wanted to take her paper away and she wasn't done writing her letters.)
We let her finish her "homework" and then she was perfectly happy to smile for a picture! I can't even imagine what she is going to be like as a teenager!

Happy birthday to my Aidan...

2010-03-14T23:50:00.002-06:00

Happy birthday to the most wonderful three year old EVER!!! Who wouldn't love a face like that?? Aidan has the most contagious laugh and he has such an excitement for life. He loves to play and is ALL boy! There are never enough cars or swords or dinosaurs! He makes me laugh every day which is good because he also makes me really mad every day! I just can't imagine what our life would be like without him in it. I am so glad that Heavenly Father chose to send Aidan to our family even if it was a bit sooner than we had planned! I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world. Happy birthday my sweet boy! I love you so very much!

Asher and the cake...

2010-03-14T23:41:00.003-06:00

Asher loved Aidan's birthday cake...well at least what he stole off of everyone's plate. He is growing up so fast! It is fun watching him try and figure out how to eat like a big kid! He makes me laugh every day!

Aidan's presents...

2010-03-14T22:18:00.003-06:00

Here are the videos of Aidan opening his presents. These are especially for Grandma and Grandpa Conrad! We wish the computer would have worked but hopefully this is a good substitute! Aidan had a great day and we are so thankful for EVERYONE that made his day so special!

Aidan's birthday song...

2010-03-14T22:06:00.002-06:00

Last year on his birthday Aidan was scared of the "fire" on his cake. This year it was a whole different story! I just love this kid...he was full of genuine excitement over everything that surrounded his special day!

The best birthday gift...

2010-03-14T21:47:00.002-06:00

Aidan loves fish...I mean LOVES fish! Whenever we go to Walmart he requests a visit to the fish tanks rather than the toys! Nate and I have been planning to get him some goldfish for his birthday and were so excited to finally be able to do it! We set the tank up the night before while he was asleep and he was so excited. He kept saying he would be right back...he just wanted to go watch his water! It was PRICELESS!!
We took him to the pet store and Walmart and let him pick out his own fish. He got five fish and one snail. They are named...Aidan, Talia, Noah, Asher, Grandma, and Grandpa (the snail). This is Aidan looking at his fish "Aidan".
Here is the happiest birthday boy EVER!!
I love this picture! He stood like that for quite a while watching Daddy get the fish into the tank. I can't even tell you much he loves his fish. He gets up from his meals at least two or three times just to check and see if they are okay! It has been so much fun and we all are loving our newest family members!

An oldie but a goodie...

2010-03-14T18:46:00.003-06:00

Here is my favorite video from our Christmas this year. Aidan and the Wii...it just doesn't get much better! (Sorry it took me so long to get this posted Grandpa!)

Pant problems...

2010-03-14T18:37:00.002-06:00

(Aidan knows pants should go up by his belly button...he just isn't sure what those other buttons are!)

We have problems with pants in our house. Some don't stay up and some come up too far!

My birthday baby...

2010-02-24T00:40:00.003-07:00

Now there is my pretty birthday girl! I can't even begin to tell you how much joy this little girl brings to our family. She is lively, dramatic, funny, loving, energetic, and smart...the list could go on and on. Our life just wouldn't be the same without our Tally girl! Happy birthday to my favorite lady! I love you Talia!

2010-02-24T00:34:00.002-07:00

Here is Talia in her new birthday dress from Grandma and Grandpa Conrad. We were able to finally talk her out of wearing the socks to church. She wasn't following my line of reasoning...I mean..."my dress has pink and my socks have pink...they match right??" We took this picture before the tears started when I forced her to wear the tights that really "matched" the dress!

2010-02-24T00:18:00.002-07:00

My baby girl turned four a couple of weeks ago. I don't know how that happened! She was so excited because Grandma and Grandpa with the puppy (Smith) and Aunt Tiffy came for her big day. Grandma and Grandpa Conrad joined us for presents and cake via webcam. It was so much fun to have everyone be a part of her birthday. Most birthdays it has just been our little family and it is just better with more people to share it with! Thank you everyone for coming and making her day so special!

Talia's birthday cake...

2010-02-24T00:07:00.002-07:00

Every year I make the kids a birthday cake. Talia couldn't seem to decide on what she wanted until the day of her birthday. She finally decided on a white cake with pink flowers. She loved it and that is the only thing I cared about! She picked out princess candles and I think it all turned out great!

My little chef...

2010-02-23T23:56:00.002-07:00

Tammy and Scott gave us a fun Green Eggs and Ham game. It is so much fun. The kids love to wear the little chef hat that comes with it...especially Asher. I think we put it on ten or fifteen times. Once he would get it on he would run down the hall to look in the mirror. Then he would take it off and bring it back so we could start all over! Luckily he looked darn cute every time or that game wouldn't have lasted very long!

The big day...

2010-02-23T23:50:00.002-07:00

We were lucky enough to have Grandma and Grandpa Conrad and Aunt Tiffy here for Christmas. It was our first Christmas staying at home and I must say it was wonderful. It was so fun to put our kids to bed in their own rooms and see how excited they were for Santa to come. I think they had such a good Christmas. We were spoiled as usual. Probably the best gift was the Wii that all of the family went in on! You would have thought we got a million dollars with the way the kids reacted! It was great. Thanks to everyone for that gift. It was more than we could have ever asked for! We are so grateful! Our favorite part of Christmas was just having our family around...couldn't have asked for a better Christmas!

My favorite part of Christmas...

2010-02-23T23:25:00.002-07:00

My FAVORITE part of Christmas this year was the nativity and reading the Christmas story. The kids are finally getting big enough to understand the story AND pay attention. Nate did such a good job bringing it down to a level that they could follow. Noah read the story from the Bible with a little help from Daddy. It was so fun to see them so interested in the real reason behind this holiday. These are the moments that make a Mom proud!

An early holiday...

2010-02-23T22:58:00.003-07:00

We spent an early Christmas with my family. Grandpa and Grandma came and spent a couple of days with us. We decided to let the kids open their presents while they were there. They were so excited to get an early present! Thanks for coming and spending some time with us. It was so much fun to have so many family members during the holiday! The kids LOVED all of the things they got! I especially enjoy Asher's wooden train. I put it together at least three times a day!

Loves...

2010-02-23T22:43:00.001-07:00

The best way to say thank you for an awesome Christmas? Lot and lots of loves! I think these are some sweet pictures! Thanks for all the goodies Grandma and Grandpa!

Noah's teacher gift...

2010-02-23T22:32:00.002-07:00

Noah wanted to make his teachers a present for Christmas. We decided to make an ornament with leftover fabric that i had. He wrote the words and I embroidered it onto the fabric. He was really proud of them and I think his teachers liked them too. He got rave reviews!! My favorite thing is looking at his cute writing! He is growing up so fast!

No words...

2010-02-23T22:30:00.001-07:00

She must take after her Daddy. I would never wear bloomers on my head!

Talia's Christmas dress...

2010-02-23T22:24:00.001-07:00

Here is Talia in her Christmas dress! She picked it out all by herself and I have to say I think she has spectacular taste. It is 100% Talia! She looks so pretty!

Curious...

2010-02-23T22:09:00.002-07:00

Asher loves to look out the window especially when it is snowing. You can't tell but it was snowing with those huge fluffy flakes. I got tired of holding him up to the window so I just got a stool and let him watch by himself. I love his little tippy toes! He is such a curious boy!